Snap-action switch



p 1962 c. A. BALL, JR 3,056,002

SNAP-ACTION SWITCH Filed Oct. 19, 1959 Bill ll/11111. 10 INVENTOR.

3 CHARLES/419mb, F5 4.

11/5 Ara at/vac United States Patent one 3,056,002 Patented Sept. 25,1962 3,056,002 SNAP-ACTION SWITCH Charles A. Ball, Jr., Highland Park,IlL, assignor to Cherry Electrical Products Corp, Highland Park, 111., acorporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 847,206 3 Claims.(61. 200-67) My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in asnap-action switch and more particularly to an electrical switchactuated by the minimum movement of an actuator which in turn causes apositive snap-action movement of a switch blade.

An improvement object of my invention is in the provision in a switch ofthis character of an integral pivot bracket comprising separate fulcrumsfor the switch blade and actuator.

Another important object of my invention is in the provision in a switchof this character of an arrangement of parts which aifords a greatermechanical advantage ratio between the movement of the actuator byapplied force and the work accomplishing movement of the switch blade.

Yet, another object of my invention is in the provision in a switch ofthis character of an arrangement of parts which accomplishes the severalobjects of this invention yet comprises a minimum amount of space andeffort in manufacture.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view switch;

FIG. 2 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 showing the parts of my switchin actuated position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the parts of my invention in explodedrelation; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional detailed view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1.

The several objects of my invention are accomplished by the preferredform of construction shown in the accompanying drawing in which drawingthere is illustrated a mounting plate 10. This mounting plate may beformed of suitable non-conductive material.

Mounted on the plate 10 is a pivot bracket 11 comprising a verticallyextending post 12. The free end of the post 12 terminates into twospaced apart parallelly extending fingers 13 and 14. These fingers 13and 14 each have one face thereof V-grooved as at 15, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The opposite end of the pivot bracket 11 terminates into a dependingterminal 16 which may be of either the quick connecting type asillustrated in FIG. 3, or the integral type, both of which are wellknown in the art. Between the terminal 16 and the post 12 and struckfrom the medial portion of the bracket 11 is a pair of spaced apartsupports 17 and 18. These supports have the opposite outside edgesnotched as at 19 for a purpose hereinafter made apparent.

A switch blade is indicated as at 20. This switch blade 20 providesparallelly extending spaced apart members 21 and 22 at one end thereof.These members 21 and 22 provide longitudinally extending parallelfingers 23 and 24 respectively formed as an integral portion of theopposite longitudinal edges of the blade 20 as seen in FIG. 3.

An actuator is indicated as at 25. This actuator provides a medialportion 26 which is adapted to lie in spaced of my improved snap-actionparallel relation with respect to the plate 10 when mounted in anoperative position hereinafter described. One end of the actuator 25 isformed to provide a stop member 27.

The opposite end of the actuator 25 is bent so as to provide an elevatedfree end 28. At the bend in the actuator 25 the opposite edges thereofare notched-out as at 29. One side edge of each of the notched-outportions is tapered as at 30 for a purpose hereinafter made apparent.

In mounting the parts of my improved snap-action switch together, theswitch blade 20 has the members 21 and 22 thereof projected through theopening 31 formed in the pivot bracket 11 where the supports 17 and 18were struck therefrom. The members 21 and 22 are projected through thisopening 31 until the fingers 23 and 24 provided thereby are pivotallyseated in the notches 19 formed in the opposite edges of the supports 17and 18, FIGS. 1 and 2.

The fingers 13 and 14 of the post 12 are projected through the notches29 formed in the actuator 25. The tapered edges 30 of the notches 29 arecaused to sit in the V-grooves 15 formed in the faces of the fingers 13and 14, FIGS. 1 and 2. This arrangement provides a simple, yet effectivefulcrum for the actuator 25.

A tension member 32 in the form of a coil spring has one end connectedas at 33 to the switch blade 20. The opposite end of the member 31 isconnected as at 34 to the end of the actuator 25. Under normal tensionof the tension member 32 the switch blade 20 and the actuator 25 willassume the positions shown in FIG. 1.

When an applied force is placed on the free end 28 of the actuator 25 itwill cause the same to pivot about its fulcrum so that the connection 34of the tension member 32 is moved relative to the fulcrum of the switchblade 20. By continued movement the tension member 32 is caused to passbetween the members 21 and 22 to a posi tion above the longitudinal axisof the switch blade 20 causing the same to move with a snap-action to aposition shown in FIG. 2. In such position the contact 35 I. carried bythe switch blade 20 will be out of engagement With a contact 36 carriedby the plate 10.

The snap movement of the switch blade 20 will be arrested by shoulders37 formed adjacent the opening 31 of the post 12. When the applied forceis removed from the free end 28 of the actuator 25 a reverse actiontakes place. The reversing movement of the actuator 25 is arrested bythe stop member 27 engaging one end portion of the pivot bracket 11.

By the foregoing construction I have provided an electrical snap-actionswitch which utilizes all the mechanical advantages resulting from thegreater distance ratio between the actuator fulcrum and the switch bladefulcrum. The actuator 25 is contained within a minimum of horizontalspace and has its longitudinal length substantially in the same verticalplane with respect to the mounting bracket and switch contacts.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into eifect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A snap-action switch comprising an integral terminal member andmounting bracket for a switch blade and switch actuator,

said bracket at one end providing a terminal member,

the other end of said bracket providing an angularly disposed pivotalmember having parallelly extending spaced apart fingers,

a pivotal switch actuator adapted to be disposed between and in pivotalcontact with said parallel fingers of said bracket,

a pair of spaced apart pivotal supports struck from said bracketintermediate said terminal member and said pivotal member and adapted toextend in a spaced parallel relation with respect to said fingers,

said pivotal supports adapted to pivotally receive one end portion of aswitch blade,

a movable switch blade having one end in pivotal contact with saidspaced apart pivotal supports and its opposite end projected through anopening formed in said pivotal member so as to lie in a longitudinalplane transversely to said pivotal member and said pivotal supports,

tensional means for forcing said blade and said actuator in oppositedirections into pivotal contact with their respective pivotal supportsand pivotal fingers and for movably maintaining said blade and saidactuator in an unactuated position,

means on said actuator for preventing pivotal movement thereof in onedirection under tension of said spring,

and means provided by said pivotal bracket for preventing unlimitedpivotal movement of said switch blade in an opposite direction by saidspring when said blade is in an actuated position.

2. A snap-action switch comprising an integral terminal member andmounting bracket for a switch blade and switch actuator,

said mounting bracket providing at one end a terminal member,

the other end of said bracket providing an oppositely extending pivotalmember having parallelly extending spaced apart fingers,

said fingers having V-shaped transversely extending grooves formed inone side face thereof for pivotally receiving a portion of a switchactuator,

a pivotal switch actuator comprising an elongated member providing anangled intermediate portion having a reduced neck providing sideshoulders adapted to be disposed between and in pivotal contact withsaid V-shaped grooves of said parallel fingers,

a pair of spaced apart pivotal supports struck from said bracketintermediate said terminal member and said pivotal member, with saidsupports of a length less than said pivotal members and adapted toextend in a spaced parallel relation with respect thereto,

said pivotal supports having notches formed in their outer edges forpivotally receiving end portions of a switch blade,

a movable switch blade having one end bifurcated to provide parallelarms with said arms having their end portions notched so as to pivotallyengage the notches formed in said pivotal support,

the opposite end of said switch blade adapted to project through anopening formed in said pivotal member so as to lie in a longitudinalplane transversely with respect to said pivotal member and said pivotalsupports,

a coiled spring for forcing said blade and said actuator in oppositedirections into pivotal contact with their respective pivotal supportsand pivotal fingers and for movably maintaining said blade and saidactuator in an unactuated position,

means on said actuator for preventing pivotal movement thereof in onedirection under tension of said spring, said pivotal member providingstop members projecting inwardly of the opening formed therein forpreventing unlimited pivotal movement of said switch blade in anopposite direction by said spring when said blade is in an actuatedposition.

3. A snap-action switch comprising an integral terminal member and pivotbracket for a switch blade and a switch actuator,

said bracket at one end providing an angularly disposed pivotal memberhaving parallelly extending spaced apart fingers,

said fingers having V-shaped transversely extending grooves formed inone side thereof for pivotally receiving a switch actuator,

a switch actuator comprising an elongated member providing an angledintermediate portion having a reduced neck providing side shouldersadapted to be disposed between and in pivotal contact with saidV-grooves of said fingers,

a pair of spaced apart pivotal supports struck from said bracketintermediate said terminal member and said spaced apart fingers, withsaid supports of a length less than said pivotal members and adapted toextend in a spaced parallel relation with respect thereto,

said pivotal supports having notches formed in their outer edge portionsfor pivotally receiving a bifurcated end portion of a switch blade,

a switch blade having one end bifurcated to provide parallel arms havingtheir end portions notched so as to pivotally engage the notched outportions of said pivotal supports,

the opposite end of said switch blade adapted to project through anopening formed in said bracket so as to extend in a plane normal to saidpivotal fingers,

a tension member extending through the opening formed in said bracketand betwen the arms of said switch blade and having one end fixed tosaid switch blade and the opposite end fixed to one end of said actuatorso as to maintain said actuator in pivotal contact with said fingers andsaid blade in pivotal contact with said pivotal supports,

means on said actuator for preventing pivotal movement thereof in onedirection under tension of said spring, said pivotal member providingstop members projecting inwardly of the opening formed therein forpreventing unlimited pivotal movement of said switch blade in anopposite direction under tension of said spring when said actuator ispivoted relative to said pivotal bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,157,156 Abendroth May 9, 1939 2,314,995 Lennholm Mar. 30, 19432,513,804 Kaminky July 4, 1950 2,758,171 Cherry Aug. 7, 1956 2,790,865Cherry i Apr. 30, 1957 2,862,083 Bailey Nov. 25, 1958

